Anti-siphon assembly

Abstract

An anti-siphon assembly includes a siphon tube having a first end region adapted for securement to the inner surface of a fuel filler neck and a second end region adapted to be positioned in a fuel tank for allowing fuel to flow there through into said tank. The assembly includes a locking ring which secures, in an off axis manner, the first end region of the siphon tube within the fuel filler neck with the use of specialized installation tool.

We claim: 
     
       1. An anti-siphon apparatus, comprising:
 an anti-siphon tube that defines a cylindrical exterior surface; 
 a lock ring including a cylindrical exterior surface that defines an outside diameter and a central elongate axis, and an inner cylindrical surface axially offset from said central elongate axis of said exterior surface, said inner cylindrical surface sized to receive therein said exterior surface of said anti-siphon tube; and 
 an installation tool including a locking structure that engages said lock ring and said anti-siphon tube when said tube is positioned in said lock ring, and said installation tool further including an inner shaft that includes said locking structure fixedly secured thereon, and an outer sheath movable along said inner shaft. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said anti-siphon tube includes a tool aperture and wherein said locking structure is a pin that is received within said tool aperture. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said lock ring includes a tool aperture and wherein said pin of said installation tool simultaneously is received within said tool aperture of said anti-siphon tube and said tool aperture of said lock ring. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said anti-siphon tube includes first and second tool apertures, said lock ring includes first and second tool apertures, said locking structure includes a first pin received simultaneously within said first tool apertures of said anti-siphon tube and said lock ring, and wherein said locking structure includes a second pin received simultaneously within said second tool apertures of said anti-siphon tube and said lock ring. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said outer sheath is movable along said inner shaft between an installation position directly adjacent said locking structure and a removal position distal from said locking structure. 
     
     
       6. An anti-siphon apparatus, comprising:
 an anti-siphon tube that defines a cylindrical exterior surface; 
 a lock ring including a cylindrical exterior surface that defines an outside diameter and a central elongate axis, and an inner cylindrical surface axially offset from said central elongate axis of said exterior surface, said inner cylindrical surface sized to receive therein said exterior surface of said anti-siphon tube; 
 an installation tool including a locking structure that engages said lock ring and said anti-siphon tube when said tube is positioned in said lock ring; and 
 a fuel filler neck that defines a cylindrical inner surface having an inwardly extending projection positioned there around, said anti-siphon tube including a projection receiving aperture that receives a portion of said projection therein. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said lock ring includes a cut out region, and wherein said portion of said projection extends through said cut out region and into said projection receiving aperture of said anti-siphon tube. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said fuel filler neck includes an exterior surface secured to a fuel tank. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said anti-siphon tube includes a first end region secured within said lock ring, a second end region positioned distal from said first end region and including anti-siphon structure positioned therein, and a central region positioned there between, said central region of said anti-siphon tube including a bend therein. 
     
     
       10. A method of installing an anti-siphon device in a fuel tank, comprising:
 placing an anti-siphon tube within a fuel filler neck of a fuel tank, said anti-siphon tube including a cylindrical exterior surface; 
 placing a lock ring around said anti-siphon tube and within said fuel filler neck, wherein said a lock ring includes a cylindrical exterior surface that defines an outside diameter and a central elongate axis, and an inner cylindrical surface axially offset from said central elongate axis of said exterior surface, said inner cylindrical surface sized to receive therein said cylindrical exterior surface of said anti-siphon tube; 
 placing an installation tool within said fuel filler neck and into engagement with said anti-siphon tube and said lock ring, said installation tool including an inner shaft that includes a locking structure fixedly secured thereon and an outer sheath movable along said inner shaft, said locking structure engaging said lock ring and said anti-siphon tube when said tube is positioned in said lock ring so as to inhibit rotation of said lock ring and said anti-siphon tube with respect to said installation tool and with respect to each other; and 
 rotating said installation tool so as to secure said lock ring and said anti-siphon tube on said fuel filler neck. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein said inner cylindrical surface is sized to receive therein an exterior surface of said anti-siphon tube so as to position said anti-siphon tube off-axis with respect to said exterior surface of said lock ring. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein said anti-siphon tube is secured with said installation tool to a nozzle supporting projection positioned on an interior surface of said fuel filler neck. 
     
     
       13. An anti-siphon assembly, comprising:
 a lock ring including an exterior surface that defines an outside diameter and an inner circular surface axially offset from a central elongate axis of said exterior surface, said lock ring including an aperture communicating between said exterior surface and said inner circular surface; 
 an anti-siphon tube including a projection receiving aperture therein, said anti-siphon tube positioned within said inner circular surface and having said projection receiving aperture aligned with said aperture of said lock ring; and 
 a fuel filler neck including an interior surface having an inwardly extending projection positioned thereon, said lock ring and said anti-siphon tube positioned within said fuel filler neck such that said inwardly extending projection is positioned extending through said aperture of said lock ring and into said projection receiving aperture of said anti-siphon tube so as to secure said lock ring and said anti-siphon tube within said fuel filler neck. 
 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 13  wherein said anti-siphon tube includes first and second tool apertures positioned opposite said anti-siphon tube from said projection receiving aperture, said lock ring includes first and second tool apertures positioned opposite said lock ring from said aperture communicating between said exterior surface and said inner circular surface, and wherein said first tool apertures of said anti-siphon tube and said lock ring are aligned with one another when said second tool apertures of said anti-siphon tube and said lock ring are aligned with one another. 
     
     
       15. The assembly of  claim 13  further comprising an installation tool including an inner shaft having first and second tool prongs extending outwardly there from, said first tool prong received within said first tool apertures of said anti-siphon tube and said lock ring when said installation tool is positioned within an interior of said anti-siphon tube, and said second tool prong received within said second tool apertures of said anti-siphon tube and said lock ring when said installation tool is positioned within said interior of said anti-siphon tube. 
     
     
       16. The assembly of  claim 15  wherein said installation tool includes an outer sheath movable along said inner shaft between a first position wherein said sheath is positioned away from said first and second tool prongs, and a second position wherein said sheath is positioned adjacent said first and second tool prongs. 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 14  wherein said aperture of said lock ring is positioned opposite said lock ring from said first and second tool apertures of said lock ring. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 14  wherein said projection receiving aperture of said anti-siphon tube is positioned opposite said anti-siphon tube from said first and second tool apertures of said anti-siphon tube. 
     
     
       19. The assembly of  claim 13  wherein said anti-siphon tube includes a first end region secured within said lock ring, a second end region positioned distal from said first end region and including anti-siphon structure positioned therein, and a central region positioned there between, said central region of said anti-siphon tube including a bend therein.